award-winning

As we celebrate our 10 year Anniversary in February 2020 its all change for Sinead Kelly London. Moving into 2020 the salon’s reputation has gone from strength to strength as we pave the way to being one of London’s go-to salons. Now is the time that salon owners and power couple Sinead and Andy decided to give the salon a modern and luxurious look.

No expense was spared in the quarter of a million pound refit as Sinead and Andy worked tirelessly with builders, light engineers and furniture suppliers to create a space that truly represented the brand and the new direction SKL are going in. From the moment you walk into the salon you are greeted by one of the members of the SKL family at the modern reception area, directly behind is a bespoke shelving unit displaying the trophies and awards the salon has won; the latest of which being the coveted L’Oreal Colour Trophy. Sinead and Vas (the resident colour specialist) nabbed the trophy in June 2019 in a record breaking win, Vas being the only colourist to ever win the award twice. We are very excited to announce that Sinead and Vas will be showcasing their winning look on the world stage when they venture to Milan in March 2020 for the International Colour Trophy. The

trophy takes pride of place, showcasing the in-salon talent you can expect when visiting.

Next to this is a private consultation table for new clients who wish to discuss hair colour, cut and style options as well as existing clients who might want a more in-depth consultation prior to their appointment if looking for a change.

You are then guided through to an impeccably designed salon floor; pendant lights and soft furnishings from West Elm bring warmth to an ultra chic and modern space. The lighting ranges from track lighting that runs across the ceiling, reminiscent of Hollywood film sets, to golden pendant globes above sections and on the walls to mirror backlighting all carefully selected to create the correct ambience. The main lighting is flattering to the client and ensures your colour tone is exactly as it should be.

A ‘community’ table stretches along the central part of the salon, designed by Sinead and made reality by the fine Italian brand Maletti. This table means clients and stylists can work opposite each other promoting a social and community feel. The mirrors that divide each section can be removed in order to hold meetings with staff or creative discussions to ensure the team are always at the forefront of fashion and new trends. All seating is also Maletti and made of beautiful Italian leather to ensure the utmost comfort during your visit.

Sinead and Andy worked alongside L’OrealProfessionel and Kerastase to create a hair bathing area luxurious in treatments and products, exquisite in design and most importantly an environment of relaxation, tranquillity and indulgence. Massage chairs with rising footrests mean you can choose exactly how you prefer to enjoy this integral part of your salon visit. Sonos is installed throughout the salon and calming, dulcet spa music fills the hair bathing area in contrast to the upbeat deep house sounds that brings vibrancy and fun to the main salon. Every tiny but important detail has been thought through to ensure Sinead Kelly London remains at the forefront of excellent service as well as fashion. It provides a high-end and lavish experience very rarely found outside central London salons, showcasing why they are the go-to salon for colour and current national winners of one of the biggest awards in the country. The team are more like a family and this will be instantly noticeable when visiting as a warm and friendly environment is integral to the salon’s success.

2020 is a very exciting year for Sinead Kelly London. Sinead and her highly trained team look forward to welcoming you into this new space of creativity, fashion and design in order to give you the highest level of service and care in London hairdressing. As we raise a toast to a fantastic decade of SKL we also raise a toast to the next, making sure we continue to go from strength to strength and keep our reputation of excellence in one of the world’s most fashion forward and thrilling cities.

Don’t miss out and make sure you get your Christmas appointment booked in with one of our fabulous team members by either call 0208392244 or email info@sineadkellylondon.com

Check out our work on instagram @sineadkellyldn

Our Christmas opening hours mean we are closed on the 24th December and reopen on the 2nd January

As the weather turns cooler things are hotting up in the world of hair colour. Here I talk you through two of the biggest colour trends this season.

Antique Hair

2019 lets platinum blonde take a back seat and introduces one of the hottest trends right now: Antique Hair. To achieve this look successfully aim for soft golden hues, hints of rose gold and a blonde that reflects light for a glow-like shine. It harks back to the soft focus and romantic lighting reminiscent of 70’s photography and film and adds a touch of glamour to both light and dark blondes. The key to achieving this new trend is to do a combination of warm and cool tones when colouring the hair; muted gold, champagne and beige. This is a colour which will suit most blonde clients, however assess the natural tones in the hair; if on a warmer natural base inject cooler tones by making the primary tone ashen and if the natural base is cooler then a warm primary tone followed by a secondary cool tone will work better. Dependent on how adventurous your client is you can either go for an all over sepia look by toning prelightened hair or if they prefer a more subtle nod to the trend use your more golden colours in highlights. It’s a great way to warm up skin tones and adds a healthy shine which makes the look much more appealing to blonde clients of all ages and hair lengths. Ensure you keep your locks super healthy by doing an intense conditioning treatment after colouring in-salon and using home products advised by your stylist to maintain shine and the integrity of the hair between services.

Spice Rack

Things are heating up even further this year with inspiration from the rich, sumptuous tones found in spices from around the world. Colour is becoming bolder with Turmeric yellows, luxurious paprika reds and deep clove brunettes. It’s a trend redheads, blondes and brunettes can embrace equally which makes it accessible to all. For maximum impact and for your more adventurous clients go for an all over gloss and for clients who might want a touch of spice, use more freehand techniques like balayage and slices to add a taste of colour. Earthy in nature, this trend is reflective of what is currently happening socially with people becoming much more environmentally conscious and looking after our planet. To get maximum results ensure the hair is well looked after and in optimum condition to avoid colour fade and pre-colour hair that requires more attention to create the desired depth and tone. For lighter clients take inspiration from softer hues like that found in cinnamon and for real impact on blondes who want to make a statement look to stronger shades such as saffron. Layer glosses to draw on the complexity and depth found in the colour of spices. This is a trend you can really have fun with but make sure clients are aware that without the right after care it will fade quicker.

Let’s rewind back to 2016, the first time I entered the L’Oreal Colour Trophy with Sara Bergantini under the mentorship of salon owner Sinead Johnson. I admit I did not know much about the Colour Trophy or what it entailed in terms of kudos in the industry and sheer amount of work and dedication to not only represent ourselves as colourists and stylists but also as a salon aesthetic. We went on to win the competition with a denim blue bob. Little did I know how important this would be, not only in my own career but as a creative. Our beautiful model Natasha Underwoodembodied everything we felt represented the modern London woman, the colour; a bold, strong statement with an expertly cut bob by Sara to make the look unconventional yet timeless. Gladiator heels were added to the Maje umbrella dress to indicate a fierce, industrial warrior going into battle on the National hairdressing stage of L’Oreal.

Now, here we are again. Three years on and with a new challenge ahead of us. How has fashion evolved? How has our interpretation of the London woman evolved? And how do we create yet another iconic look that embodies the aesthetic and ideals of Sinead Kelly London as a salon? Myself and Sinead go into battle again, armed with a new warrior; new in terms of style but recognisable in terms of bringing out our finest muse; Natasha. As we have evolved, so has our model, embodying a new representation of style. The challenge is great but one I and Sinead fervently take on. Both of us complete perfectionists to the point of obsessive. So where do we start?

Colour Trophy isn’t simply a hair competition. L’Oreal Colour Trophy is the longest running live hairdressing competition and has also evolved in its 64 years from only 300 attendees in 1954 to thousands of the industry’s greatest talents. This is serious business in the world of hairdressing and the cup is greatly coveted.

In terms of colour, it was brought to my attention by one of my best friends Emer (who also trained as a hairdresser originally) that mustard hair was an exciting new trend hitting social media. It certainly caught my attention yet something was lacking. As beautiful a colour as it can be…mustard to me represents something matte, dense and simplistic. I wanted to take this concept of mustard hair and elevate it. Create a colour not yet seen in a single tube. I didn’t want it ‘yellow’ or ‘orange’; I wanted something luxurious, beautiful, and complex. Something that also embodied the ideals of L’Oreal and its preference for shiny, beautiful hair. Then it hit me, Sienna. Sienna represents a colour which is classic in its use but multi-faceted and luxuriant. But how do you make it?

After several failed attempts on multiple swatches, like some mad scientist, my thoughts go to my sister Elizabeth Mikellides, a master of fine art with a wealth of education behind her with a Masters from the Slade School of Art under her belt and a creative analytical thought process. Surely if I follow the laws of fine art painting I can adapt those to the laws of hair colour? I got straight on the phone to her. This is when it clicked, a trichological eureka moment. Elizabeth explained to me that Sienna is translucent, whereas yellow ochre (a colour similar to mustard) is opaque. There are various tones in Sienna: orange, yellow, blue. Tones that contradict each other on the colour wheel but when layered on top of each other and kept translucent can create a stunning colour with multiple reflects.

I won’t bore you with the exact measurements of each tone but it was armed with this information that I created our final colour. We had our colour but now we needed our ‘look’. What does our muse represent? How is this relevant for today’s woman?

There is a mutual respect between myself and Sinead. We work well together and hold no punches. We are honest about what we think from the outset and it is with this that our most achieved looks are created. Every length and style of hair was considered. Long, short, sharp, straight, curly. With Sinead as the stylist and with a penchant for giving a woman the most complimentary length and style it was decided that a long sharp bob was the canvas to our colour, the style a meticulously symmetrical yet elegant soft wave. A true representation of the 2019 woman; strong and bold yet soft and with a French classic twist (it is L’Oreal after all).

A contemporary yet chic look, I would describe the colour as a rich and glossy Sienna, multi-faceted and complex in its composition, the style; a soft yet perfectly symmetrical waved sharp long-bob. It is a combination of contradictory messages, challenging the expectation of femininity. Not sticking to current trends, it was our goal to produce a look with our own interpretation of the 2019 London woman, resilient yet feminine, gentle, earthy and natural. Recognition of what is going on culturally with climate change and ethical obligations to preserving our environment.

This was further represented by our beautiful burnt orange dress by Self Portrait, with its classic 1940s cut but modern high neckline and the fierce Zara ankle sock boot with a killer heel and beaded flower brooches to add softness and pay homage to classic ideals of femininity. The make-up was executed by Cristiana Maxim, the same make-up artist who worked her magic on 2016’s final look. A fresh, dewy complexion with freckles and muted nude lip, complemented by a stronger brow and Natasha’s hazel eyes. The colour palette; from the hair to the make-up to the clothing all marries together to create a fluid, earthy interpretation of the London woman with a nod to French style and class.

Off we send our Amazonian beauty into battle, having already beaten hundreds of salons nationwide to get to the highly anticipated final. A glitzy affair in Battersea, where we again compete to lift that sought after trophy. This time a little wiser and happy in the knowledge that win or lose, we have yet again represented ourselves and the salon as a force to be reckoned with. Even more importantly, I and Sinead are content in our ability as colourist and stylist and thrilled to showcase our collaborative work as Natasha sashays down that catwalk once more. And that truly is triumph enough.

We’re famous for our colour and style transformations and as we welcome two new, extremely talented members to our already wonderful Sinéad Kelly London team it’s time you met the award-winning experts behind some of South London’s best hairstyles.

Sara

Sara, our resident London Fashion Week stylist, qualified under Sinéad’s training at just 17. Showing natural talent and flare, Sara’s haircutting skills are outstanding and her sought after up styling, make Sara our go-to girl for wedding hair.

Ellie

Ellie is now a fully qualified stylist under the training of Sinéad and Natasha. She has an abundance of natural talent and the eye for the latest styles and trends.

Sarah

New to the team, Sarah is a highly skilled colour and styling specialist with over 10 years experience in the industry. Her A-Z product knowledge is exceptional, giving the valuable advice on treatments and styles for each of her clients.

Vas

Our most recent addition to the team is Vas, a qualified L’Oreal Colour Specialist consultant. Having worked alongside the likes of Beverley Corbella in Selfridges, Vas is paving the way in beautiful colour transformations. From the loudest reds to the brightest blondes, Vas has the expert eye to advise your next colour change.

Natasha

Our award-winning executive stylist Natasha has a host of celebrity clients on her books. Working with Sinéad from when the salon first opened, Natasha has previously won the L’Oreal Colour Trophy and is well-known for her first-class consultations. Technically, Natasha’s hair colouring and styling skills are unmatched, with clients from all over London travelling miles for an appointment.

Sinéad Kelly Johnson

Founder of The Sinéad Kelly Salon, Sinéad has been working in the industry for over 18 years, scooping numerous awards and recently becoming a L’Oreal Paris European consultant. After graduating in 2003 with a degree in colour, Sinéad has worked on numerous national campaigns and hasn’t seen the end of her waiting list since. Her clients include the likes of ITV’s Holly Willoughby, the face of Garnier Nutrisse Pearly Blondes.

Whether you’re looking for a total refresh, a style update or a colour transformation, book a consultation and let the expert Sinéad Kelly London colourists and stylists revamp your look.